West Island Women's Centre

Great place for courses..groups...exercise and friendship

Great place to meet other mamas and stay in shape!

My wife loved the center she found many useful activities for herself .

The West Island Women's Centre - is a widely-used non-profit community organization. They offer a wide variety of classes some of which change each session. They have children's classes, fitness courses, language courses, cooking and personal development courses. They also host support groups for women and other social events.

Because it is a non-profit organization the courses are very inexpensive.

One of the best things about the Centre for new moms is the FREE childcare offered during most daytime classes and events. The childcare room is decorated with bright murals and well stocked with fun, safe toys. They plan themes for the kids, do crafts and activities with the older children and excellent care for babies. With low child to caregiver ratios and staff that has been there many years, the quality of childcare at the Women's Centre is top-notch!
The courses offered each session vary. They do offer the same fitness classes most sessions and the instructors I have had have been very good. The children's courses I attended with my daughter were fun but some of the instructors have changed recently so I can't say what they are like now.

Cons: There is no AC so the gym can get quite hot during the spring and fall. The centre is closed in the summer. No classes are offered on the weekends.

Overall WIWC is a fantastic resource for women of all ages living in or near the West Island.

This is a wonderful weekday activity center for women of all ages. Moms with children under the age of 5 benefit from excellent, friendly childcare while the mom is in the building participating in one of the classes or groups or volunteering. I made many new friends while a member there. Membership is reasonable and courses run from fall to the end of spring. The fall session courses are typically 10 weeks long, as well as the winter, and spring ones run for 7 weeks; the prices are very fair. There are fitness classes, personal development classes, craft classes, mom and toddler classes, language classes; and some evening classes; support groups and book-clubs. There are free seminars throughout the year and plenty of opportunities to become involved in the running of the center by volunteering for committees and special events such as the popular Silent Auction held in November. Long after children have entered the school system and beyond, members continue to return for the lively activities and friendship. I wanted to write in because I so enjoyed my time there and to clarify the misconception that it is a shelter - which is written in this portion of the site; this is completely inaccurate and needs to be corrected; however, staff are able to refer someone for that purpose.